While most analysts believe that the Notre Dame football team is good enough to win the National Title, don't count Cody Nagel among them. Powers, in fact, believes the Irish will hit a roadblock once they make the CFP.
Several analysts wrote a "Bold Prediction" article for CBS Sports for every team in the Top 25. The good news is that Nagel has the Irish making it to the College Football Playoff. However, he doesn't think their regular-season schedule will provide enough of a test to get them ready once the playoffs start.
The official "Bold Prediction" for Notre Dame, according to Nagel, is that they will lose in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.
Breaking down CBS Sports’ bold Notre Dame predictions for the 2026 season
"CBS Sports' Brad Crawford has the Fighting Irish slotted as the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye in his way-too-early CFP bracket for 2026. Notre Dame will face a manageable regular-season schedule, but the lack of week-to-week competition and the long layoff between the end of the regular season and the quarterfinals (more than 30 days) could leave the Fighting Irish rusty, setting the stage for an early postseason exit."
What Nagel doesn't seem to understand is just how focused Marcus Freeman and his crew are on righting the wrongs of the 2025 CFP field. After being snubbed, the Irish are in a "unfinished business" type of situation for the 2026 playoff.
Notre Dame's schedule might not be the bear it has been in recent years, but there are enough opponents (think Miami) that will keep them honest and get them ready to make a real run in the College Football Playoff.